Local band provides music for BMC play

MALONE - Those who attend the Brushton-Moira Central School play will get an extra treat when they get to hear the plays musical pieces performed by popular local rock/country/bluegrass band Thirty1&Mandolin.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will feature around 20 songs performed by students in grades three through 12 and Thirty1&Mandolin.

We had a late start because we didnt know nobody was available until December, said sound board director Joy Hastings. So thats why the musical is late this year.

She said the last few school musical plays have just used piano music or canned music.

The last time that we had a pit band was several years ago, Ms. Hastings said.

Joy and I have been friends for a while and she had told me how she was going to take on this musical, said Thirty1&Mandolin lead vocalist and keyboardist Travis Preve, adding that Ms. Hastings asked several people if they would be interested in performing for the play, but people were busy.

Our band has preformed here at Brushton a few times for fundraisers, Mr. Preve said, adding that the band played two concerts for the Dollars For Scholars Scholarship Fund.

So, her thought was, we were kind of known as a band to the people here ... so I kind of volunteered the guys to do it, Mr. Preve said.

However, his bandmates were unsure of the idea at first.

Mandolin and acoustic guitar player Corey Monette said his first reaction was, Are you kidding me? But its actually been really fun.

Electric and acoustic guitarist Jim Stickney said he didnt know what to think at first, though he is enjoying his time performing for the show now.

Its out of our comfort zone, but the music is really catchy, Mr. Stickney said.

Thirty1&Mandolin bass and guitar player Corey Maneely said he thought it was a really good idea.

When we first listened to the CD, I realized how much work we had to do; breaking the music down, putting our own little spin on it, he said. Travis wouldnt put us up to something he didnt feel like he couldnt actually achieve.

Drummer Mike Dufort didnt know what to expect.

I was excited about it, but I was a little nervous, he said. Its not really a style of music I have a lot of experience with.

However, that changed quickly.

Its really come together quite well, I think, Mr. Dufort said.

Preve noted the band doesnt strictly follow the way the songs are usually played.

We keep the melodies and the basics of the song, but we kind of make it our own as well, he said.

Preve said the biggest challenge of agreeing to perform was working with everyones schedules.

I kind of became the default music director because I would come every night and work with the kids. I could then go to the band when they were available and then say, OK, this is how were doing it, he said, noting that he was already familiar with some of the songs. There were a couple of pieces we knew would be tough, but with the exception of those few pieces, it came together very nicely. The kids are so talented.

We have incredible talent, Ms. Hastings said. The kids have blown me away and all of us away.

Mr. Preve said the band only rehearsed a total of five times with the students in the play.

So it was challenging, he said.

Mr. Preve also helped design some of the set work, noting that two of his nephews are in the play.

Ms. Hastings described this musical as the most fun out of all the plays shes been a part of — and its my favorite.

I figured if I was going to do a musical, it better be one I know because Ive never directed before, she said, noting that she was in charge of the spotlight for this particular musical at a theater camp when she was still in high school.

The show is a very famous show, Ms. Hastings said, noting that this is the first time the play will be performed at BMC. This musical has been done in 20,000 public schools.

Ms. Hastings said the story line is great.

Its a story about never giving up on your dreams, no matter what, she said.

The musical is a retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and the coat of many colors, according to the musicals pamphlet.

Jim Berns is the stage director and Rachael Ghostlaw was in charge of the choreographer, according to Ms. Hastings.

Though Mr. Preve was unsure if Thirty1&Mandolin would perform for school musicals again, his bandmates said otherwise.